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8-K - 8-K - GP STRATEGIES CORPa8k4q15.htm

Exhibit 99.1


NEWS RELEASE

GP Strategies Reports Fourth Quarter 2015 Earnings of $0.37 Per Share

Columbia, MD. February 25, 2016. Global performance improvement solutions provider GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX) today reported financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.
Overview of Fourth Quarter 2015 Results:
Revenue of $126.4 million for fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $125.2 million for fourth quarter of 2014
Earnings of $0.37 per share for fourth quarter of 2015, inclusive of $0.02 per share of restructuring charges and litigation settlement costs, compared to $0.43 per share for fourth quarter of 2014
Cash flow from operations of $16.0 million for fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $14.3 million for fourth quarter of 2014
EBITDA of $11.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2015, inclusive of $0.7 million of restructuring charges, litigation costs and loss on change in fair value of contingent consideration, compared to EBITDA of $13.5 million for fourth quarter of 2014

The Company’s revenue increased $1.2 million or 1.0% during the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes and the decline in the Company’s non-core alternative fuels business, revenue increased 5% during the fourth quarter of 2015. Foreign currency exchange rate changes contributed to a $2.6 million revenue decline during the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. In addition, there was an expected $2.5 million revenue decrease in the Company's non-core alternative fuels business due to project completions in 2014.

Operating income declined $1.5 million to $10.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $11.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2014. The decrease in income is primarily attributable to a decrease in gross profit due to the completion of higher margin projects in 2014 combined with an increase in certain lower margin revenue streams in 2015. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations adversely impacted year over year U.S. dollar reported gross profit by $0.5 million during the fourth quarter of 2015. Included in operating income is $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share, of restructuring charges, consisting of severance expense in connection with the previously announced cost savings initiative to better align costs with revenue and improve operating margins. The Company also incurred costs of $0.3 million, or $0.01 per share, related to the settlement of a

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lawsuit in the fourth quarter of 2015 which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Net income was $6.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $7.4 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2014.

The Company reported revenue of $490.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015, representing a 2.3% decrease over 2014 revenue of $501.9 million. The net decline is largely attributable to a $30.0 million revenue decrease due to the completion of alternative fuels projects in 2014 and an $11.3 million revenue decrease due to unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by an increase in global training services in 2015. Excluding these items, revenue increased $29.7 million or 6%. Net income was $18.8 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $27.1 million, or $1.43 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2014.

"Our fourth quarter results showed the highest quarterly profitability in 2015 and strong cash flow from operations," commented Scott N. Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer of GP Strategies. "We achieved overall organic growth despite the continued negative impact of foreign currency fluctuations and lower revenue in our non-core alternative fuels business. Our strong cash flow from operations allowed us to continue our share buyback program. We are also pursuing selective acquisitions that would expand or strengthen our existing lines of business or our geographic footprint, returning to a strategy which has contributed to GP Strategies' growth in prior years."

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $21.0 million compared to $14.5 million as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2015, the Company had long-term debt outstanding of $24.4 million. In addition, the Company had $34.1 million of short-term borrowings outstanding and $29.3 million of available borrowings under its line of credit as of December 31, 2015.

Cash provided by operating activities was $25.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $31.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company repurchased approximately 477,000 shares of its common stock in the open market for a total cost of approximately $12.3 million. As of December 31, 2015, there was approximately $14.0 million available for future repurchases under the buyback program.

Investor Call
The Company has scheduled an investor conference call for 10:00 a.m. ET on February 25, 2016. In addition to prepared remarks from management, there will be a question and answer session on the call. The dial-in numbers for the live conference call are 800-669-5017 or 303-223-4394, using conference ID number 21806337. A telephone replay of the call will also be available beginning at 12:00 p.m. on February 25th, until 12:00 p.m. on March 10th. To listen to the replay, dial 800-633-8284 or 402-977-9140, using conference ID number 21806337. A replay will also be available on GP Strategies’ website shortly after the conclusion of the call.


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Presentation of Non-GAAP Information
This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization). The Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors in evaluating the Company’s results. This measure should be considered in addition to, and not as a replacement for, or superior to, either net income, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, or cash flow, as a measure of the Company’s liquidity. In addition, because EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP equivalent, see the Non-GAAP Reconciliation – EBITDA, along with related footnotes, below.

About GP Strategies
GP Strategies Corporation (NYSE: GPX) is a global performance improvement solutions provider of sales and technical training, eLearning solutions, management consulting and engineering services. GP Strategies’ solutions improve the effectiveness of organizations by delivering innovative and superior training, consulting and business improvement services, customized to meet the specific needs of its clients. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, manufacturing, process and energy industries, and other commercial and government customers. Additional information may be found at www.gpstrategies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
We make statements in this press release that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from those we project. For a full discussion of these risks, uncertainties and factors, we encourage you to read our documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in our periodic reports under the forward-looking statements and risk factors sections. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

TABLES FOLLOW

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GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

 
Quarter ended
Year ended
December 31,
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
2014
2015
2014
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
126,431

$
125,200

$
490,280

$
501,867

Cost of revenue
104,019

101,265

408,288

412,292

Gross profit
22,412

23,935

81,992

89,575

Selling, general and administrative expenses
11,889

12,194

47,748

47,108

Restructuring charges
356


1,551


Gain (loss) on change in fair value of
contingent consideration, net
(57
)
(121
)
(371
)
1,392

Operating income
10,110

11,620

32,322

43,859

Interest expense
370

434

1,381

833

Other expense
(177
)
(388
)
(1,318
)
(203
)
   Income before income tax expense
9,563

10,798

29,623

42,823

Income tax expense
3,311

3,374

10,834

15,725

Net income
$
6,252

$
7,424

$
18,789

$
27,098

 
 
 
 
 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding
16,988

17,166

17,110

18,641

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
17,119

17,336

17,264

18,887


Per common share data:
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share
$
0.37

$
0.43

$
1.10

$
1.45

Diluted earnings per share
$
0.37

$
0.43

$
1.09

$
1.43

 
 
 
 
 
Other data:
 
 
 
 
EBITDA(1)
$
11,784

$
13,513

$
38,869

$
53,414


(1)
The term EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company believes is useful to investors in evaluating its results. For a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable GAAP equivalent, see the Non-GAAP Reconciliation – EBITDA, along with related footnotes, below.

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GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

 
Quarter ended
Year ended
December 31,
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
2014
2015
2014
Revenue by segment:
 
 
 
 
Learning Solutions
$
52,576

$
54,664

$
207,039

$
198,242

Professional & Technical Services
28,775

33,195

119,092

151,559

Sandy Training & Marketing
25,524

17,330

87,567

67,694

Performance Readiness Solutions
19,556

20,011

76,582

84,372

Total revenue
$
126,431

$
125,200

$
490,280

$
501,867


Gross profit by segment:
 
 
 
 
Learning Solutions
$
9,681

$
10,547

$
36,223

$
32,761

Professional & Technical Services
5,852

7,251

23,621

33,350

Sandy Training & Marketing
3,448

3,176

11,321

10,903

Performance Readiness Solutions
3,431

2,961

10,827

12,561

Total gross profit
$
22,412

$
23,935

$
81,992

$
89,575


Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
16,026

$
14,334

$
25,554

$
30,998

Capital expenditures
(526
)
(442
)
(2,357
)
(2,757
)
Free cash flow
$
15,500

$
13,892

$
23,197

$
28,241



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GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Non-GAAP Reconciliation – EBITDA (1) 
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)



Quarter ended
Year ended
December 31,
December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
2014
2015
2014
Net income
$
6,252

$
7,424

$
18,789

$
27,098

Interest expense
370

434

1,381

833

Income tax expense (2)
3,311

3,374

10,834

15,725

Depreciation and amortization
1,851

2,281

7,865

9,758

EBITDA
$
11,784

$
13,513

$
38,869

$
53,414


(1)
Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) is a widely used non-GAAP financial measure of operating performance. It is presented as supplemental information that the Company believes is useful to investors to evaluate its results because it excludes certain items that are not directly related to the Company’s core operating performance. EBITDA is calculated by adding back to net income interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA should not be considered as a substitute either for net income, as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance, or for cash flow, as a measure of the Company’s liquidity. In addition, because EBITDA may not be calculated identically by all companies, the presentation here may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

(2)
Income tax expense includes a $0.3 million benefit in the fourth quarter of 2014 and $0.9 million benefit for the year ended December 31, 2014 resulting from a claim for a deduction under Internal Revenue Code Section 199 for the Domestic Production Deduction on the Company’s 2013 U.S. federal income tax return which was not taken in previous years.




 


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GP STRATEGIES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
December 31,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
21,030

 
$
14,541

Accounts and other receivables
 
90,912

 
99,638

   Costs and estimated earnings in excess of
billings on uncompleted contracts
 
46,061

 
30,211

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
9,173

 
15,967

Total current assets
 
167,176

 
160,357

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
6,245

 
7,864

Goodwill and other intangibles, net
 
128,196

 
136,292

Other assets
 
733

 
939

Total assets
 
$
302,350

 
$
305,452

 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings
 
$
34,084

 
$
20,799

Current portion of long-term debt
 
13,333

 
13,333

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
61,071

 
59,018

   Billings in excess of costs and estimated
earnings on uncompleted contracts
 
18,366

 
23,670

Total current liabilities
 
126,854

 
116,820

Long-term debt
 
11,111

 
24,444

Other noncurrent liabilities
 
6,041

 
12,463

Total liabilities
 
144,006

 
153,727

Total stockholders’ equity
 
158,344

 
151,725

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
302,350

 
$
305,452




© 2016 GP Strategies Corporation. All rights reserved. GP Strategies and the GP Strategies logo design are trademarks of GP Strategies Corporation.

# # # #

C O N T A C T S:

    
Scott N. Greenberg
 
Sharon Esposito-Mayer
 
Ann M. Blank
Chief Executive Officer
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
Investor Relations
443-367-9640
 
443-367-9636
 
443-367-9925

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